A couple of weeks ago I finished Jane Austen’s *Pride and Prejudice*. While I didn’t I resonate with the characters in a material sense, I was enamored by:
1. Austen’s prose, and
2. The social dynamics between multiple characters, the multi-pronged relationships with each other and with society.
In *P+P,* there is a continuous plot with twists and turns, but I feel that the JUICE of the book is in the how the characters’ relationships evolve through different conversations and social pressures across time. >!I’m not so intrigued by a fluffy feel good ending as I am with the evolution and growth between characters.!<
I that think this is a style of story building that I have really enjoyed in other books. Two that come to mind are *The Unbearable Lightness of Being* by Kundera and *The Voyage Out* by Woolf. I could also probably put *The Brother’s Karamazov* or *War and Peace* in this category as well, but these books had SO much going on that its hard to say that the plot was primarily relationship driven. Generally, these books all have really strong dialogue which is probably an important component.
The relationships in these novels by no means need to be Romantic, its more about society-person-person-society dynamics (though I also love a love story).
I am wondering if anyone has more novels that fit this vein? Would love to hear your thoughts!
by j_smell